Lee Alec Barrie Biography
Lee Alec Barrie, contemporary jazz guitarist whose style has been compared to
Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour and other popular contemporary jazz guitarists, still remembers his first gig—“I was fourteen and I made $5. I couldn’t believe I was paid to have such fun.” A guitarist since age 12 when he started classical guitar training, Barrie was professional by age 14, starting out with a teenage rock band, playing Beatles, Beach Boys and Chuck Berry tunes plus some classic R&B.
Lee Alec Barrie
These early musical relationships lasted well into his twenties and he had the privilege of recording with Lipps Inc., a Minneapolis-based band best known most for its number one hit “Funkytown” in the late 70’s. His musical horizons were broader than pop, however. At age 15 he was introduced to the bossa nova sounds of Joao Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim. “When I first heard those beautiful chords which said so much so easily, I realized that rock and pop would never be enough for me as a guitarist.”
Barrie still can’t get enough bossa nova. With a guitar style that seamlessly blends bossa nova with jazz, blues and pop sensibilities, his music expresses emotionality and a fluidity that is difficult to categorize. “I simply tell people that I play contemporary jazz. I like to play compositions that have a groove, that create a sensitive yet exhilarating mood. They draw from a variety of styles: Latin, R&B, Brazilian jazz, traditional jazz and the blues.”
Barrie’s evolution as a guitarist was accelerated when he began to experiment with a Roland guitar synthesizer, which allows his electric guitar to take on the sound of a wide range of instruments. He now has the opportunity to solo as a saxophonist, flutist, organist, violinist and many others, all while playing on the guitar. He chooses the instrument based on the style and mood of the song.
Barrie’s idea for a “virtual band project”—whereby he plays solo over his pre-recorded jazz backing tracks—evolved naturally. Having taken a break from professional performance for a number of years, he became a self-taught jazz pianist and a computer technology expert, which gave him the musical and technical skill to arrange and record his own instrumental backing tracks at his home recording studio, using digital sequencing, sampling and virtual instrumentation. “By using my own arrangements and voicings, and taking advantage of the guitar synthesizer to create a variety of solo sounds, I can easily perform in a live situation, bring the whole “virtual band” with me and play the music I enjoy. It seems that my audiences enjoy it too. I’ve been told it is so apparent how I love playing that this energy translates to my audiences as well.” An event featuring the live music of Lee Alec Barrie is memorable; an energizing and refreshing musical experience that heightens the enjoyment of people having great times together.
He is now working on his debut solo album, a multi-stylistic effort which he plans to produce and distribute independently.